Personal Tearjerkers
Movies that never fail in making me weep or at least feel choked up, every time. A couple of classic "tearjerkers" are not here because I have not seen them yet (i.e. "Old Yeller", "Terms of Endearment", "Grave of the Fireflies", etc.) I have tried to avoid spoilers, but be warned that there a fewin the description boxes, so it's best to avoid reading on the films you haven't watched.
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- DirectorRoberto BenigniStarsRoberto BenigniNicoletta BraschiGiorgio CantariniWhen an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.Two scenes: When Guido (Roberto Beningni) and his son (Giorgio Cantarini) get to the loudspeakers of the concentration camp to greet Dora (Nicoletta Braschi). And that ending, with the little boy on top of the tank with the American G.I., seeing his mother once again and screaming triumphally "We won!", while the closing narration does its work. It never fails to get me, even in publicly embarrasing situations.
- DirectorIsmael RodríguezStarsPedro InfanteEvita Muñoz 'Chachita'Blanca Estela PavónSequel to Nosotros los Pobres (1947). This time, Pepe "El Toro" (Infante) is married with "La Chorreada" (Pavon) and they have two children. Chachita (Munoz) knows her real grandma: Charito (Derba), a rich woman who takes Chachita away from Pepe and tries to convert her into a rich girl. El Pichi (Fernandez) and Chachita are inlove, but social differences take them apart. This time, tragedy overcomes when Pepe's son, El Torito (Giron) dies in a fire.Pepe el Toro (Pedro Infante) having a brutal emotional breakdown with his little boy's burnt corpse, which he holds on for many days, locked in their burned apartment. Scenes of the little kid play over scenes of Pepe's hysterical laughter, which quickly degenerate into mad sobs.
- DirectorGeorge StevensStarsAlan LaddJean ArthurVan HeflinAn ex-gunfighter defends homesteaders in 1889 Wyoming.The waterworks begin after the end of the final duel. Shane's farewell to Joey puts many other "goodbye" scenes to shame (no pun intended). The wounded Shane leaving on horseback while young Joey screams "Shane! Come back, Shane! Pa's got things for you to do. And Mother wants you. I know she does!", only to finally realize what he is saying. A farewell to a great hero, an era and childish innocence. Another movie that gets me hard always.
- DirectorIsmael RodríguezStarsSara GarcíaPedro InfanteAbel SalazarLuis Antonio, Jose Luis and Luis Manuel are back and seemingly at ease with each other. However, destiny still has something in store for them: the spawn of one of the evil Lopez, siblings Leon and Juan Simon, are looking for vengeance.Half the movie. The death of Grandmother Garcia, the funeral scene, the scene with a drunken and devastated Luis Antonio (Pedro Infante) bringing a serenade to her grave and part of the hilarious testament scene. Great stuff.
- DirectorRobert MulliganStarsGregory PeckJohn MegnaFrank OvertonA widowed lawyer in Depression-era Alabama defends a black man against a false rape charge while teaching his young children about the sad reality of prejudice.The ending scene with "Mr." Boo Radley.
- StarsRobert DuvallTommy Lee JonesDanny GloverTwo former Texas Rangers renew their spirit of adventure as they and several other residents of a small Texas town join a cattle drive to the Montana Territory.While the mini-series contains many heart-wrenching scenes, Woodrow Call's (Tommy Lee Jones) return to Lonesome Dove after many of his comrades (including his best friend) have died (the scenes are re-played in flashback as this happens) is quite the punch to the emotional gut.
- DirectorsPhil NibbelinkSimon WellsStarsJames StewartJohn CleeseAmy IrvingFievel's family decides to move out to the West, unaware that they are falling into a trap perpetrated by a smooth-talking cat.Sheriff Burp's (Jimmy Stewart) final speech to Fievel. It's a moving, underrated speech on itself, but it's even sadder when you consider it was Stewart's final role, summing up not only his Western persona, but one of the finest acting careers in Hollywood.
- DirectorJay RussellStarsFrankie MunizKevin BaconDiane LaneA shy boy grows up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved dog, Skip.The scenes leading up to, and including, Skip's death due to old age.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletBilly ZaneA seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.Several scenes surrounding the deaths of the passengers. The mother telling a bedtime story about the Irish heaven to her children. An elderly couple embracing each other as water surrounds them. Captain Smith's encounter with the doomed mother and her baby, as well as him sinking with ship. Mr. Andrew's heartbreaking "I'm sorry I didn't build you a stronger ship, young Rose" and his scene with the clock. And of course, "Gentlemen. It has been a privilege playing with you tonight."
- DirectorsSamuel ArmstrongNorman FergusonWilfred JacksonStarsSterling HollowayEdward BrophyJames BaskettRidiculed because of his enormous ears, a young circus elephant is assisted by a mouse to achieve his full potential.The "Baby of Mine" song scene, with Dumbo and his mother. Damn.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.
- DirectorDavid LynchStarsAnthony HopkinsJohn HurtAnne BancroftA Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.
- DirectorPeter HortonStarsJoseph MazzelloBrad RenfroAeryk EganErik, a loner, finds a friend in Dexter, an eleven-year-old boy with AIDS. They vow to find a cure for AIDS together and save Dexter's life in an eventful summer.The inevitable end to the story of two young friends, one of whom has AIDS.
- DirectorFrank DarabontStarsTim RobbinsMorgan FreemanBob GuntonA banker convicted of uxoricide forms a friendship over a quarter century with a hardened convict, while maintaining his innocence and trying to remain hopeful through simple compassion.All of the story of "Brooks Was Here". Also, the ending with Red and his closing narration.
- DirectorLasse HallströmStarsRichard GereJoan AllenCary-Hiroyuki TagawaProfessor Wilson discovers a lost Akita puppy on his way home. Despite objections from his wife, Hachi endears himself to the family and grows to be Parker's loyal companion. As their bond grows deeper, a beautiful relationship unfolds.The fate of Hachiko's owner, and the fate of Hachiko himself, especially when his master comes for him again.
- DirectorDon BluthStarsDom DeLuiseChristopher PlummerErica YohnWhile emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must locate them while trying to survive in a new country.Fievel accepting his fate as an orphan, moments before encountering his family again.
- DirectorsRoger AllersRob MinkoffStarsMatthew BroderickJeremy IronsJames Earl JonesLion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself."Dad, come on wake up!" A scene with a great impact on a generation.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsLiam NeesonRalph FiennesBen KingsleyIn German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.Several scenes, including the evacuation of the Warsaw Ghetto, the murder of the one-armed elder gentleman and the fate of the girl with the red coat. And of course, Schindler's (Liam Neeson) breakdown at the end ("I could've saved more") taking off his Nazi gold pin and calculating how many more lives he could've saved. The final tribute with the survivors and the actors that played them is also highly emotional.
- DirectorLee UnkrichStarsTom HanksTim AllenJoan CusackThe toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it's up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren't abandoned and to return home.That ending. Enough said.
- DirectorsTed BermanRichard RichArt StevensStarsMickey RooneyKurt RussellPearl BaileyA fox named Tod and a hound named Copper vow to be best friends forever. But as Copper grows into a hunting dog, their unlikely friendship faces the ultimate test."Goodbye May Seem Forever"...Sweet Lord. Also, in retrospect, "Best of Friends".
- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsHayden ChristensenNatalie PortmanEwan McGregorAs the Clone Wars nears its end, Obi-Wan Kenobi pursues a new threat, while Anakin Skywalker is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot for galactic domination.The execution of order 066, including the implied murder of the younglings ("Master Anakin, there's too many of them. What are we going to do?" Never have I hated the sound and sight of a lightsaber being switched on) Also, Obi-Wan's final conversation with Anakin, ending with the saddest "I loved you" ever.
- DirectorMel GibsonStarsMel GibsonSophie MarceauPatrick McGoohanScottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England."You bled with Wallace! Now bleed with ME!" Manly tears ensue.
- DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRobert De NiroJames WoodsElizabeth McGovernA former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life."Noodles...I...slipped." Oh, Dominic...
- DirectorsPete DocterBob PetersonStarsEdward AsnerJordan NagaiJohn Ratzenberger78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to South America in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.Anything involving Ellie.
- DirectorRichard MarquandStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherAfter rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance attempts to destroy the second Death Star while Luke struggles to help Darth Vader back from the dark side.Darth Vader's redemption and his final words to Luke ("Tell your sister...you were right. You were right about me.") Also, the scene with the dead Ewok and its partner trying to wake him up.
